Lace fastener

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a lace fastening device that can be attached to items requiring the use of laces that firmly ties the laces of the said item. The fastening device comprises; a housing base ( 3 ), a gripping plate ( 1 ); a central aperture ( 3 A), into which both free ends of the lace are threaded to penetrate through; a gap spacer ( 2 ) (optional); a safety strap ( 7 ); and a pair of lace clips ( 4 ) that retains the free ends of the lace. The gripping plate ( 1 ) having serrations ( 1 A) allows for sliding the lace when the lace is pulled along the lateral slots and, prevents the lace from sliding back towards the central aperture ( 3 A) when the lace is released. Therefore, the device gives the user greater ease, speed and convenience in fastening and undoing laces on the said items.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to lace fastening devices, and moreparticularly to a knotless lace-fastening device, which is attached to alace so as to firmly maintain the tied state of the lace on items suchas footwear, bags, garments, packages, sports equipment, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

For the purpose of explaining the lace fastening device in accordancewith the present invention and not limiting the scope of the presentinvention, an ideal example will be a footwear using lace.

Generally, most footwear, which uses lace, threaded through eyelets of afootwear, are designed to enable a wearer to adjust the lace to atightening degree that retain the footwear in place on the feet of thewearer.

However, the shoelace-type footwear has several disadvantages for peoplewith learning disabilities or physical disabilities, such as, arthritisor difficulty tying or untying the shoelace whenever putting on ortaking off the footwear, which are commonly experience by young childrenand the elderly. There are also the possibilities of tripping caused bythe shoelace becoming inadvertently loosened and untied while walking.

Various related devices have come into the market to address thisproblem. However, most devices do not conveniently allow for easyadjustment of the shoelaces of the footwear to be tightened or loosened,as well as, the inconvenience of the footwear to gradually loosen whilewalking. There are also devices having multiple parts, which are notuser friendly, as well as, the high manufacturing costs and relativelypoor durability. While fasteners made of VELCRO have the disadvantagesof its weak gripping capability and strength that further decline afterrepeated usage and laundering.

Therefore, in view of the inconvenience of tying a shoelace, it would bedesirable to have an inexpensive, durable, user friendly and easy to usedevice for tightening and loosening laces.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been designed to resolve theabove-mentioned problems, and it is a product that functions as a lacefastening device which can easily accommodate any type of lace, be itthick or thin, round or flat. At the same time the present inventionenables the lace to be easily and rapidly fasten and unfasten whenputting on and taking off one's footwear.

The present invention aims to prevent a lace from becoming inadvertentlyloosened and untied while being fasten to the footwear. It also enablesboth hanging ends of the lace to be secured after fastening and neatlyclipped.

In relation with the present invention, the suitable form of releasableand fastening means can be accomplished by the provision of a lacefastening devise comprising: a housing (consist of the gripping plateattached to the housing base) having an aperture into which both freeends of the lace are threaded to penetrate through, a gap spacer(optional), a safety strap that also stabilises the housing, and a pairof lace clips to retain the free ends of the lace. The housing in whichboth free ends of the lace, penetrating through the lace aperture, ispulled to tighten the footwear, has lateral slots acting as guidemembers for the lace with one side of the gripping plate surface havingserrations with low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lacewhen the lace is pulled within the lateral slots, whereas, when the laceis released after being pulled, the serrations, which are designed togive a high friction grip, prevent the lace from sliding back towardsthe central aperture, which is justified by the alignment of the plateaperture and central aperture.

Preferably, the pair of lateral slots that also function as lacepassages to be obliquely designed as a space defined between an uppersurface and a lower surface of the housing, respectively, the inclinedserrations may be obliquely positioned as the upper surface, while thesmooth lower surface is positioned horizontally flat, thereby causingthe lateral slots to be narrow inwardly or wider outwardly, forcing thelace to move inward to the narrower space and being secured by thegripping actions of the serrations after tightening the lace onto thefootwear.

Preferably, the safety leash may be made out of fabric, which isadjustable, attachable and detachable to the housing and the footwear,that include a metal chain at one end of the leash.

Preferably, the lace-fastening device may further comprise a pair oflace clips to be use with the housing, which both hanging ends of thelace are fitted and secured. The lace clips may be mounted on thefootwear or the said items by means of sewing or gluing or both. Thelace clips may have a hole on each three ends of its base to allow forsewing means.

This invention may further provide an effective and convenientalternative to known devices for fastening laces or the like onfootwear, bags, garments, packages, sports equipment, etc. The presentinvention, comprising of three triangular durable members, which consistof; a housing as the main component for fastening and releasing of lace;a pair of lace clips as sub-components, will function as clips forattaching the loose ends of the lace to the footwear or said items. Thehousing will be attached to the footwear via a safety leash asillustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. While the pair of lace clips made outof durable plastic will be attached to the footwear or said items bymeans of sewing or gluing or both methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following drawings with the accompanying detailed descriptions willfurther clarify the practicality of the above and other objects,features and other advantages of the present inventions:

FIG. 1 Shows an exploded axonometric view of the lace-fastening device,incorporating all the component parts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 Shows an axonometric view illustrating the lace-fastening devicein FIG. 1 with all the component parts completely assembled in thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 Is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein thelace-fastening device shown in FIG. 2 is installed on to a user'sfootwear in an unlocked position.

FIG. 4 Is a perspective view of the lace-fastening device shown in FIG.2 which is installed on to a user's footwear in a tightened and lockedposition.

FIG. 5 Is an axonometric view illustrating the sequence of steps intightening the lace-fastening device onto the footwear.

FIG. 6 Is an axonometric view illustrating the sequence of steps inloosening and releasing the lace-fastening device from the footwear.

FIG. 7 Is a top plan view illustrating the lace-fastening device shownin FIG. 1, in a state wherein the adjustable safety strap (7), strapchain (6) and lace-clip device (4) are omitted.

FIG. 8 Illustrates the bottom plan view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 Illustrates the right elevation view as shown in FIG. 7 or as theleft elevation view in FIG. 8, which includes all component parts of theinvention except for the gap spacer (2), safety strap (7), strap chain(6) and lace-clip device (4).

FIG. 10 Illustrates the left elevation view as shown in FIG. 7 or as theright elevation view in FIG. 8, which excludes the gap spacer (2).

FIG. 11 Illustrates the front elevation view as referred to in FIG. 7and in FIG. 8, which excludes the gap spacer (2).

FIG. 12 Illustrates the rear elevation view as referred to in FIG. 7 andin FIG. 8, which excludes the gap spacer (2).

FIG. 13 Is a cross-section view of the component parts of FIG. 7 andFIG. 8, showing the plate aperture (1B), the central aperture (3A), thegripping plate (1), the housing base (3), the strap chain aperture (3D),the serration member (1A), and the chain groove (3B).

FIG. 14 Is a cross-section view of the component parts of FIG. 4 andFIG. 5, showing the plate aperture (1B), the central aperture (3A), thegripping plate (1), the housing base (3), and the serration member (1A).

FIG. 15 Illustrates the bottom plan view of the gripping plate (1),which consists of the serrations (1A), the plate aperture (1B), thescrew aperture (1C), and the plate slit (1D).

FIG. 16 Illustrates the top plan view of the lace-clip device (4) inFIG. 1, whereby the aperture for sewing (4A), the tooth (4B), the base(4E), and the head (4F) are visible.

FIG. 17 Illustrates the bottom plan view of the lace-clip device (4) inFIG. 16, whereby the aperture for sewing (4A) and the base (4E) arevisible.

FIG. 18 Illustrates the rear elevation view of the lace-clip device (4),as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, which shows the aperture groove(4D), base (4E), and head (4F).

FIG. 19 Illustrates the front elevation view of the lace-clip device(4), as referred to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, which shows the ridge (4C),tooth (4B), base (4E), and head (4F).

FIG. 20 Illustrates the left elevation view of the lace-clip device (4),as referred to FIG. 16, which shows the ridge (4C), tooth (4B), base(4E), and head (4F).

FIG. 21 Illustrates the right elevation view of the lace-clip device(4), which is symmetrical to FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 Is a cross-section view of the lace-clip device (4), as referredto FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, showing the ridge (4C), base (4E), and head(4F).

FIG. 23 Is a cross-section view of the lace-clip device (4), as referredto FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, showing the aperture for sewing (4A), tooth(4B), ridge (4C), aperture groove (4D), base (4E), and head (4F).

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

To best describe the invention and its component parts, reference toexamples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings will nowbe made in detail. Application of the same reference numerals will beused throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same orlike parts. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, intended tobe illustrative rather than restrictive to the scope of the presentinvention, and limited only by the appended claims. The lace fasteningdevice in accordance to the present invention will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1 to 23.

The lace fastening device, which comprises of the following enumeratecomponents; gripping plate (1), gap spacer (2), housing base (3),lace-clip device (4), screw (5), strap chain (6) and safety strap (7).

Shown in FIG. 1 is the exploded axonometric view of the presentinvention that illustrates the assembly of the lace fastening device. Inthe assembly process of the lace fastening device, which comprises ofthe gripping plate (1) and the optional gap spacer (2) that are fixed tothe housing base (3) by means of using two screws (5) that complete themain housing. Consequently, this method of assembly allows the user tohave the option of customising the colour of the gripping plate (1), gapspacer (2), and housing base (3) to his or her own preference based onthe availability of the parts concern in the market. The installation ofthe gap spacer (2) is optional for a thicker lace that can be use withthe present invention.

Although the housing base (3) and the lace-clip device (4) has atriangular plan shape in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 23, one ofthe ordinary skill will recognise that it is not limited to any specificshape or size that could be used without departing from the scope of theinvention and the incorporation of other components of the device.

In the component parts of FIG. 2 and FIGS. 9 to 15, the lace passagesare defined by the gap between the gripping plate (1) and the housingbase (3). The gripping plate (1) which has the incline serration members(1A), as illustrated in FIG. 15, which also function as locking teeth,are obliquely positioned as the upper surface, while the housing base(3), which function as a horizontally flat smooth lower surface, causesthe lace passages to be narrow inwardly or wider outwardly. The gapspacer (2) is only incorporated in the device between the gripping plate(1) and the housing base (3) if the need to increase the gap of the lacepassages arises, such as the use of a thicker lace.

In restricting the movement of the housing base (3) and the attachedgripping plate (1) from rotating either to the left or to the right,while the lace (9) is being pulled to tighten the lace fastening deviceto the footwear (8), the safety strap (7) which is detachable from thefootwear, is secured to the housing base (3) and the footwear (8) (referto FIGS. 1 to 4). Preferably the shape of the plate aperture (1B) andthe central aperture (3A) to be oval as this will also help avoidrotation of the housing base (3) and the attached gripping plate (1)when the lace (9) is being pulled. In addition, the safety strap (7) issecurely attached to the footwear (8), by means of the lace (9) beinginserted through the strap loop (7A) before being weaved through theeyelets of the footwear. The position of the housing can be adjusted bysecuring the safety strap to the other row of lace on the footwear. Thesafety strap (7) comprises of a strap chain (6) that is locked at thestrap chain aperture (3D) of the housing base (3). The lace fasteningdevice is therefore securely attached to the footwear while stillmaintaining the flexibility of the device to move upwards, when footwearis loosen or downwards when footwear is tighten.

Considering that once the lace have been tighten, both free hanging endswould need to be secured to the footwear. Therefore, a pair of lace-clipdevice (4) is to be used as part of the lace fastening device. Asillustrated in FIGS. 16 to 23, the lace-clip device (4), which comprisesof three aperture for sewing (4A), tooth (4B), ridge (4C), aperturegroove (4D), base (4E), and head (4F), is glued and sewn through theaperture for sewing (4A) to the sides of the footwear, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. Shown in FIG. 4, once inserted into the slit in betweenthe base (4E) and head (4F) of the lace-clip device (4), the freehanging ends of the tighten lace are secured by the gripping force ofthe tooth (4B) and the ridge (4C).

FIG. 5 illustrates the sequence of steps for fastening the device asfollows:

-   1. The two loose ends of the lace are threaded through the central    aperture (3A) and the plate aperture (1B).-   2. The lace is then pulled horizontally above the gripping plate (1)    towards direction A, until reaching the optimal tightness.-   3. Both ends of the tensioned lace are then swivel to direction B,    while still maintaining the optimal tightness of the lace.-   4. The lace in tension is then guided through the cap slit (1D) and    is pull towards direction A, through the lace passage defined by the    gap between the gripping plate (1) and the housing base (3).-   5. Once the two loose ends of the lace have been pulled to the    optimal tightness, they are then release to allow the serration    member (1A) to naturally grip and secure the tightness of the lace    onto the footwear.-   6. The loose ends of the lace are then retained by the lace-clip    device (4), through insertion in between the ridge (4C) and tooth    (4B) of the head (4F) and base (4E), respectively.

FIG. 6 illustrates the sequence of steps for loosening the lace from thedevice as follows:

-   1. The loose ends of the lace are pulled off from the retaining grip    of the lace-clip device (4).-   2. Both loose ends of the lace are then pulled slightly towards    direction A to release the lace from its current locked condition.-   3. While still maintaining the tensions of the lace, both ends of    the lace are then swivel towards direction B at the same time to be    parallel to each other.-   4. Once both ends are align with the plate slit (1D), they are then    raise vertically towards direction C, passing through the plate slit    (1D) and entering the plate aperture (1B). Both free ends of the    lace can now be loosen or taken off from the housing base (3).

When fastening or loosening the device to or from the footwear, it isadvisable to hold the lace close to the housing base while pulling orguiding the lace.

Thus, the lace fastening device which is symmetrical on both left andright side will be fashionable, user friendly and provide an eventension when the lace is pulled to tighten. Also the housing of thepresent invention can be detached from or attached to the footwear orsaid items at the user's preference.

1. A knotless lace-fastening device or the like, comprising; a grippingplate, having serrations with high friction surfaces to secure freemovement of the lace when released after being pulled for tightening; agap spacer, which is optional for use with thicker lace; a housing base,into which both free ends of the lace are threaded to penetrate throughthe central aperture and plate aperture; a pair of lace-clip device, forretaining the free ends of the lace after tightening the lace to thefootwear or the said items; screws, for securing the gripping plate andthe gap spacer to the housing base; a strap chain; and a safety strap,which is used to restrict the free rotation of the fastening device,while securing it to the footwear or the said items.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the material of the said present inventioncan be of plastic, wood or metal.
 3. The device according to claim 1,wherein said housing base has a central aperture for both free ends ofthe lace to be threaded through.
 4. The device according to claim 1,wherein the lace when pulled after both it's free ends have beenthreaded through said central aperture; slides through the lace passagedefine by the spacing in between the gripping plate and the housingbase.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said gripping platehas angled serrations on one surface for gripping the lace into a lockposition.
 6. The device according to claim 4, wherein said lace passagecan be widen with the option of including the said gap spacer when athicker lace is being used with the present invention.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a safety strap, which attachedthe housing base to the footwear or the said items.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said lace-clip device comprising a headand a base, is use for clipping the free ends of the lace afterfastening the present invention to the said items.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8, further comprising a ridge moulded below the headand a pair of tooth moulded on top of the base, which restrain the freeends of the lace from involuntarily release from the slit between thehead and base.
 10. The device according to claim 8 and claim 9, furthercomprising three apertures for sewing at each corner of the base, and anaperture groove formed into the head.
 11. The device according to claim8 to claim 10, wherein the pair of said lace-clip device are attached tothe said items by means of sewing or gluing or both and are separatefrom the fastening device.
 12. A lace fastener substantially as hereindescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 23 of the accompanying drawings.